Follow Diabolical Kid today
By Hurbun Williams
Observer writer
The $480,000 Jamaica Jockeys’ Guild Trophy and the $462,000 Al Gopie Memorial Cup races are flagship events on the 10-race card at Caymanas Park today.
However, it is the fourth race where nine Overnight Allowance horses, three-year-olds and upward, including Diabolical Kid, Go My Robin, Naval Commander and Star Of The Sea will compete over 1,600 metres for the major share of the $715,000 purse, and the $715,000 Restricted Stakes ninth race for imported three-year-olds and upward (NW3 & maidens) over 1,400 metres that could generate the most excitement for the afternoon’s entertainment. First post is 1:10 pm.
The Elizabeth DaCosta-owned imported five-year-old bay horse Diabolical Kid, trained by Wayne DaCosta, will start favourite. The son of Devil His Due will be attempting the distance for the first time on local soil, but is expected to take a serious hand in the finish, even though allowing weight to at least three younger rivals who include once promising four-year-old bay gelding Naval Commander, and the darkbay four-year-old filly Western Genius, who have already won over the distance.
There is also the inform four-year-old chestnut colt Go My Robin, who was beaten over the distance by Naval Commander in early January.
Fellow five-year-olds, gelding The Greyt Doctor, and mare Star Of The Sea will enjoy the distance and coming in at least 4.0kg lighter, should give the American most to worry about judging from their preparation.
The champion trainer himself has not been idle. He has conditioned his Diabolical Kid to perform with enough devil in his strides to be a conniving ‘Chucky’ among his rivals over a distance which should not be much of a bother after his last reassuring run over 1,400 metres at the end of January.
However, despite his margin of victory in that event the son of Devil His Due out of Kids Today (Siphon), who won by 10 3/4 lengths, was seen shortening or he was being eased down by his rider Omar Walker to save him for another day.
Could today be that day? Despite his known capability and consistent performance Diabolical Kid is yet to visit the winner’s enclosure after successive races, as is the case of a number of his imported stablemates. To date from nine starts ‘D Kid’ has never won two races on the trot, but all this could change from a telling performance with stable rider Walker remaining on board for the extended trip.
Meanwhile, Royal Lad, the Ruth Hussey-owned five-year-old darkbay horse seems poised moved out of non-winners of two category when he faces seven rivals in the Jamaica Jockeys’ Guild Trophy co-feature, a Restricted Allowance V event for native-bred five-year-olds and upward over 1,400 metres.
Trained by Edward Hamilton, a bay horse by Vanadium out of Lady Sarka (Lake Coniston), he weaken out of contention when last at the races, but possibly that was by design as he lacked the matching speed of the winner Royal Impact.
Today’s pace looks more to his liking, as the distance has increased and having recorded his only career win over today’s journey, could make a bold bid with trainer Hamilton replacing Neville Stephenson with the leading claiming apprentice Aaron Chatrie.
His main rivals could manifest themselves in Royal Dreamer, the mount of Kerry-Gayl Robinson, the speedy Colorado Babe with top claiming apprentice Doushane Gordon, recent winner Lux ridden by Wilbert Gobay, Roll The Dice partnered by Peter Bryan, and Hardwar Prince with Dane Nelson up.
In the Al Gopie Memorial Cup closing co-feature condition race for native-bred four-year-olds and upward maidens looks a bang up rush for the wire between first-time runner Rajah to be ridden by the claiming apprentice Fabion Jones, Skipaway Prince partnered by Omar Walker and Rose Of Sharon with Aaron Chatrie in the irons.
One To Watch
Race 1 Cougway (Paul Francis)
Race 2 Royal Lad (Aaron Chatrie)
Race 3 Free Fall (Larris Allen)
Race 4 Diabolical Kid (Omar Walker)
Race 5 Light My Fire (Omar Walker)
Race 6 Alias Mr Cat (Dane Nelson)
Race 7 Royal Navy (Harriston Lewis)
Race 8 Mr Wicker (Ansley Dancel)
Race 9 Fluffy (Omar Walker)
Race 10 Skipaway Prince (Omar Walker)
Osive Donegal one of two claiming apprentices who opened his winning account at Caymanas Park on Wednesday heading for the winner’s enclosure aboard 10-1 chance Topless Angel with connections after piloting the native-bred three-year-old filly to victory in the eighth race. (Photo: Hurbun Williams)